freak BIOS flash

[hungrypete]

ok heres a story, though it's borderline OT material.

So Sunday I am flashing the BIOS of my little bro's KT7 so I can get the 1.85 core voltage.

BIOS flash ok, exit to DOS, power off machine...
press power button
<BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP, power off>
hungrypete: crap!
lil bro: wtf happened?!?
hungrypete: *#(@^$^#$(#@*~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tried resetting cmos jumper, pulled battery, disconnect power. Nada.
<BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP, power off>
hungrypete: *#(@^$^#$(#@*~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I had decided at that point that this BIOS was screwed. I reach down inside to see how easy it is to pop the EEPROM off (it is EEPROM right?)
I have myself grounded on the power supply, and I brush up against the ISA modem, and zap! the bastard shocked me! So now I'm thinking I have fried the modem as well as the BIOS. I am thinking I should have stayed in bed today.
So just for the hell of it, I fire it up one more time before I tell my bro that I trashed his computer and it will be about a month before Abit will send a fresh BIOS chip.
And what do you know the computer boots up fine.
I don't understand, it doesnt make sense, even the modem that shocked me enough to make me jerk my hand back is working fine. This makes no sense to my poor mind. But, WTF the computer is working flawlessly and the lil duron 600 is at 900 (posts 950 and 1ghz but freezes in windows) I don't think I'll be flashing that board anymore after that little scare!

 

[bacillus]

<< I brush up against the ISA modem, and zap >>


maybe the modem thought you were trying to become too familiar with it!!

 

[dkozloski]

Next time unplug the phone line before fooling around inside your computer. If you happen to be in there when the phone rings you can get connected up to as high as 90v. As you found out, even in an off-hook condition, the phone line has enough voltage on it to get your attention.

 

[hungrypete]

lol, I guess my dumb azz never realized the phone line carried a voltage that strong. I'm no electrician, just a mildly retarded A+ techie. but i still have no clue as to how/why the computer started again, or why it wouldnt boot in the first place.

 

[Fandu]

Haha, I did the modem zapping thing also. Was like WTF??!?! Since then have worked with phone line installation enough not to do that any more. In the off hook state, there is 24v in the wires here (canada) I imagine that it's the same everywhere in NA. If you have dry hands, you can handle the bare wires without gettin zapped, but any kind of moisture and you'll sure feel it.